EP4453412A1 - Root section, wind turbine blade and methods for producing and modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade - Google Patents

Root section, wind turbine blade and methods for producing and modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade

Info

Publication number
EP4453412A1
EP4453412A1 EP23702503.6A EP23702503A EP4453412A1 EP 4453412 A1 EP4453412 A1 EP 4453412A1 EP 23702503 A EP23702503 A EP 23702503A EP 4453412 A1 EP4453412 A1 EP 4453412A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wall
root portion
wind turbine
mounting
mounting insert
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23702503.6A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Amilcar QUISPITUPA YUPA
Francisco Javier GONZALEZ VAZQUEZ
Yonatan VERBURG RIEZU
Daniel Artal Lorente
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation and Technology SL
Original Assignee
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation and Technology SL
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation and Technology SL filed Critical Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation and Technology SL
Publication of EP4453412A1 publication Critical patent/EP4453412A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0658—Arrangements for fixing wind-engaging parts to a hub
    • F03D1/066—Connection means therefor, e.g. bushings or adapters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • F03D1/0677—Longitudinally segmented blades; Connectors therefor
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • F03D1/0679—Load carrying structures, e.g. beams
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • F03D1/0679—Load carrying structures, e.g. beams
    • F03D1/0681—Spar caps
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • F03D1/0679—Load carrying structures, e.g. beams
    • F03D1/0681—Spar caps
    • F03D1/0682—Spar caps incorporated into the shell structure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • F03D1/0679—Load carrying structures, e.g. beams
    • F03D1/0684—Shear webs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • F03D1/0685—Actuation arrangements for elements attached to or incorporated with the blade
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • F03D1/0687—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades of the blade tip region
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • F03D1/0688—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades of the leading edge region, e.g. reinforcements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/06—Rotors
    • F03D1/065—Rotors characterised by their construction elements
    • F03D1/0675—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades
    • F03D1/069—Rotors characterised by their construction elements of the blades of the trailing edge region
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D80/00—Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
    • F03D80/30—Lightning protection
    • F03D80/301—Lightning receptor and down conductor systems in or on blades
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • B29D99/0025—Producing blades or the like, e.g. blades for turbines, propellers, or wings
    • B29D99/0028—Producing blades or the like, e.g. blades for turbines, propellers, or wings hollow blades
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/08—Blades for rotors, stators, fans, turbines or the like, e.g. screw propellers
    • B29L2031/082—Blades, e.g. for helicopters
    • B29L2031/085—Wind turbine blades
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2230/00—Manufacture
    • F05B2230/80—Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/50—Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Definitions

  • Root section Wind turbine blade and methods for producing and modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade
  • the present invention relates to a root portion of a wind turbine blade, a wind turbine blade, and methods for producing and modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade.
  • Wind turbine blades comprise a tip portion and a root portion.
  • the root portion will be mounted to a hub and/or a blade bearing of the wind turbine.
  • Connection means are arranged within the root portion. These connection means can be connected to bolts, which are secured against the blade bearing of the wind turbine. When securing the bolts, the root portion is loaded, resulting in a compression of the root portion and a tensile stress in the bolts. The root portion therefore is subjected to high compressive stress and further to the loads occurring during operation of the wind turbine, wherein the design options, for example size and type of the wind turbine blade, are limited, possibly resulting in failure, and reducing service life of the wind turbine blade.
  • EP 3390811 Bl provides a connection joint for attaching a wind turbine rotor blade to a rotor hub.
  • the connection joint comprises an insert configured to be coupled to the wind turbine blade.
  • the insert includes a main body having a first end and a second end, a central bore open to the first end and extending toward the second end, and an outer surface configured to interface with the blade.
  • the insert further includes a first tubular extension extending away from the second end of the main body and having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein each of the inner and outer surfaces are configured to interface with the blade.
  • the insert includes a second tubular extension extending away from the main body and having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein each of the inner and outer surfaces are configured to inter- face with the blade.
  • a second tubular extension extending away from the main body and having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein each of the inner and outer surfaces are configured to inter- face with the blade.
  • Aforesaid object is achieved by the subject-matter of the claims.
  • the object is achieved by a root portion according to claim 1, a wind turbine blade according to claim 9, a method according to claim 10, and a method according to claim 11.
  • Further features and details of the invention can be drawn from the dependent claims, the description, and the figures.
  • Features and details discussed with respect to the inventive root portion are also correlated with the inventive wind turbine blade, the inventive methods, and the other way around.
  • a root portion for a wind turbine blade comprises: an inner wall, an outer wall, a filler between the inner wall and the outer wall, an inner volume defined by the inner wall, mounting inserts for mounting the root portion to a hub of a wind turbine , wherein the mounting inserts are supported by the filler and extend in a longitudinal direction of the root portion , and a transversal holding arrangement extending in a transversal direction f rom the inner wall and/or the outer wall into the filler , wherein the transversal holding arrangement is connected to at least one mounting insert for holding the mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade , wherein the transversal holding arrangement of a root portion may comprise at least one inlay beam extending from the inner wall and/or the outer wall into a mounting insert hole of at least one mounting insert for holding the mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade , and wherein the mounting insert hole of an inventive root portion is a through hole and the at lea s
  • the inlay beam which may be understood as a back end locking beam, may be provided alternatively or in addition to the above-mentioned at least one lateral beam .
  • the diameter of an inlay beam can be smaller than the diameter of a lateral beam . Consequently, the at least one inlay beam can be provided with relatively low weight and/or material , which is a particular advantage when the mas s of the at least one inlay beam is accelerated during operation of the wind turbine .
  • a particularly even force distribution can be achieved in the transversal holding arrangement and the respective part of the root portion , respectively .
  • the at least one inlay beam may function li ke a splint pin for reliably holding the corre sponding mounting insert in its desired position in the filler .
  • the at least one inlay beam may extend and/or be located at least through a part of the inner wall and into the through hole and from there further through at least part of the outer wall .
  • the inventive transversal holding arrangement increases the load carrying capacity of the embedded mounting inserts , in particular metallic mounting inserts . Therefore , s lipping out of the mounting inserts still connected to j oint s and the hub , respectively, can be prevented when the blade is in operation .
  • the transversal holding arrangement provides an easy and reliable solution for holding the mounting inserts in the root portion and thus the wind turbine blade to the hub .
  • the transversal holding arrangement can be integrated around the whole root portion .
  • a further advantage of the invention is that the transversal holding arrangement can be added to and/or in wind turbine base blades not having said transversal holding arrangement uptower without the need of crane s or complex machinery . That is , such a wind turbine base blade can remain in its position at the hub , while the transversal holding arrangement can be installed . This minimize s the downtime of the wind turbine compared to downtower blade repair and/or modification works . Further , by means of the present invention , pos sibly loose mounting inserts do not need to be removed for maintenance . Rather , the mounting inserts can be locked with the transversal holding arrangement . Moreover , a load path and/or an additional load path can be provided to carry a significant portion of the blade root loads . The load path via the transversal holding arrangement serves to offload the original load path via the mounting inserts without negatively influencing the original load path via the mounting inserts .
  • the root portion can be understood as the hub-side end part of a wind turbine blade and/or rotor blade . That i s , the root portion is the portion of the wind turbine blade that will be connected to the hub and/or a blade bearing .
  • the mounting inserts can be understood as tubular metal inserts integrated and/or embedded into the root portion between the inner wall and the outer wall .
  • the plurality of mounting inserts are preferably located along the circular inner wall and outer wall , wherein each mounting insert extends in the longitudinal direction of the mounting inserts in the longitudinal direction of the root portion and the wind turbine blade , respectively . That is , the longitudinal direction of each mounting insert equals or bas ically equals the longitudinal direction of the root portion and the longitudinal direction of a wind turbine blade including the root portion .
  • Each mounting insert may provide an internal thread for providing a s crew connection with a j oint having an external threat .
  • the filler can be preferably provided a s a laminate or may comprise a laminate for supporting and/or fixing the mounting inserts in the desired position in the root portion between the inner wall and the outer wall .
  • the filler may comprise dif ferent material s .
  • the filler directly between the mounting inserts , the filler may compri se a compos ite wedge and/or laminate .
  • the filler may comprise foam or a foam material different from the compos ite wedge .
  • the transversal holding arrangement may comprise a plurality of transversal elements like pins , beams , s crews , bolts , and/or expandable rivets , extending in the transversal direction into the filler and from there to at least one mounting insert for holding the mounting insert reliably in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade .
  • the transversal direction extends preferably orthogonally or basically orthogonally to the longitudinal direction .
  • the transversal holding arrangement of a root portion comprises at lea st one lateral beam extending from the inner wall and/or the outer wall into a lateral reces s of at least one mounting insert for holding the mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade .
  • Such a conf iguration can be eas ily e stablished in the root portion as well as adapted to a ba se root portion not yet having such holding structure .
  • the inventive lateral beams which can be understood as front end locking beams , are further easy to manufacture .
  • the root portion comprises a plurality of lateral beams , wherein each beam may extend from the inner wall and/or the outer wall into a corresponding lateral reces s of at lea st one mounting insert for holding said mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade .
  • each lateral beam may have an outer contact surface for contacting at lea st one lateral reces s
  • each lateral reces s may have an outer contacting surface for contacting at least one lateral beam, wherein the outer contacting surfaces are preferably shaped complementary to each other or ba sically complementary to each other .
  • the at lea st one lateral beam and/or the beams are each preferably in direct contact with at lea st one mounting insert for holding the respective mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade .
  • said beam may have a smooth and/or even outer surface , i . e . , no threads or the like .
  • the at least one lateral beam is preferably directly or indirectly fixed to the inner wall and/or the outer wall . That is , fixing means may be provided to prevent movement between the at least one lateral beam and the inner wall and/or the outer wall .
  • a beam can be understood as a pin , a bar , a bolt and/or any other rodshaped structure .
  • At least one lateral beam of an inventive root portion extends f rom the inner wall and/or the outer wall between two mounting inserts and into a lateral reces s of each of the two mounting inserts for holding the mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade .
  • the at lea st one lateral beam extending from the inner wall and/or the outer wall into a lateral reces s of at least one mounting insert can thus be understood and/or configurated as at lea st one lateral beam extending through at least part of the inner wall , through at least part of the outer wall , and through and/or into the lateral reces s .
  • the at least one lateral beam may thus extend through at least part of the inner wall into the filler to the lateral reces s and from there further through at least part of the outer wall - or the other way around .
  • This configuration makes a particularly firm mounting of the root portion to the hub pos s ible . Further , an even force distribution in the area of the transversal holding arrangement can be achieved .
  • the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam of a root portion compri ses a cylindrical shape .
  • a cylindrical lateral beam and/or a cylindrical inlay beam can be produced fast and ea sy . Further , corresponding rece s ses and/or holes can be easily established by drilling , for example .
  • the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam of an inventive root portion may compri se a cuboid shape .
  • a cuboid lateral beam may provide a particularly high holding force against displacement of the wind turbine blade from its desired location during operation of the wind turbine .
  • the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam may further comprise any other prismatic shape .
  • an inventive root portion may compri se an inner plate structure at the inner wall outside the inner volume and/or an outer plate structure at the outer wall out side the inner volume , wherein the transversal holding arrangement is mounted to the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure .
  • the inner plate structure and the outer plate structure are provided and mounted to the inner wall and the outer wall , respectively .
  • Each plate structure may provide at least one through hole , preferably a plurality of through holes , in which the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam are located and/or through which the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam extend .
  • the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure may each be bent and/or curved with a radius in order to be located form-fit to the inner wall and the outer wall , respectively .
  • the at least one through hole through the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure may have a circular cros s section or a rectangular cros s -section .
  • At least one lateral beam and/or at least one inlay beam of an inventive root portion extend from the inner plate structure to the outer plate structure , i . e . , extend from the inner plate structure to the outer plate structure while being in contact with the inner plate structure and the outer plate structure .
  • the force applied to the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam can be transmitted to the inner wall and the outer wall even more equally .
  • the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam of an inventive root portion is f ixed to the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure .
  • This configuration also fixes the relative position of the at least one lateral beam to the at least one corresponding lateral reces s and/or the at lea st one inlay beam to the at lea st one corresponding mounting insert hole , without the need of screws or other fixing means between the inner wall and the outer wall . Therefore , a transversal holding arrangement with such a configuration can be installed quickly and easily .
  • the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam i s fixed to the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure by means of threads at end portions thereof and nuts screwed thereon applying pre-tension forces into the beams and the plate structures , respectively . That is , all the beams may be kept in the desired position with nut s , bolts , s crews and/or wa shers , each being installed at end portions of the beams , for example .
  • the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam are fixed to the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure in order to prevent relative movement between the at lea st one lateral beam and the plate structures and/or the at least one inlay beam and the plate structures .
  • a wind turbine blade comprising a tip portion and a root portion as de scribed above . Therefore , the inventive wind turbine blade brings up the same advantages that have been des cribed in detail with respect to the inventive root portion .
  • a method for producing the above-described root portion comprises s the steps of : providing a root portion with an inner wall , an outer wall , a filler between the inner wall and the outer wall , an inner volume defined by the inner wall , and mounting inserts for mounting a wind turbine blade to a hub of a wind turbine , wherein the mounting inserts are supported by the f iller and extend in a longitudinal direction of the root portion , establishing at least one root portion hole through the inner wall and the filler to at least one mounting insert and/or through the outer wall and the filler to at least one mounting insert , installing the transversal holding arrangement in the at lea st one established root portion hole in contact with the at least one mounting insert .
  • a method for modifying a root portion of a wind turbine base blade installed in a wind turbine , wherein the root portion comprise s an inner wall , an outer wall , a filler between the inner wall and the outer wall , an inner volume defined by the inner wall , and mounting inserts for mounting the wind turbine base blade to a hub of a wind turbine , wherein the mounting inserts are supported by the filler and extend in a longitudinal direction of the root portion and the wind turbine base blade .
  • the method comprises the steps of : establishing at least one root portion hole through the inner wall and the f iller to at least one mounting insert and/or through the outer wall and the filler to at least one mounting insert , installing a transversal holding arrangement in the at lea st one established root portion hole in contact with the at least one mounting insert , wherein the transversal holding arrangement is installed with at least one inlay beam extending f rom the inner wall and/or the outer wall into a mounting insert hole of at least one mounting insert for holding the mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade , and wherein the mounting insert hole is provided as a through hole and the at least one inlay beam is located to extend from the inner wall through the mounting insert hole to the outer wall .
  • the at least one root portion hole is preferably drilled and/or milled into and/or through the inner wall , the outer wall , the filler , and/or at least one mounting insert. Further, the at least one root portion hole is preferably established as at least one through hole through the inner wall and the outer wall from the inner volume into the environment of the root portion.
  • Fig. 1 shows a wind turbine
  • Fig. 2 shows a wind turbine base blade as known in prior art
  • Figures 3 to 6 show illustrations for explaining an inventive method for modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade
  • Fig. 7 shows part of an inventive root portion according to a further embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 8 shows part of an inventive root portion according to a further embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 9 shows a side view of an inventive root portion
  • Fig. 10 shows a side view of a further embodiment of an inventive root portion
  • Fig. 11 shows a side view of a further embodiment of an inventive root portion
  • Fig. 12 shows a flow chart for explaining an inventive method for producing a root portion.
  • Fig. 1 shows a wind turbine 50 with a hub 51 and three wind turbine blades 10 mounted to the hub 51. As shown in more detail in the expansion view, root portions 12 of the wind turbine blades 10 are mounted to a bearing 52 of the hub 51.
  • Fig. 2 shows a wind turbine base blade 10' as known in prior art.
  • metallic mounting inserts 17 are located in a laminate filler 16 between an inner wall 14 and an outer wall 15 of the root portion 12.
  • the mounting inserts 17 are supported by the filler 16 and extend in a longitudinal direction 18 of the root portion 12 and the wind turbine base blade 10' .
  • Joints 53 are screwed into the mounting inserts 17 for holding the wind turbine base blade 10' at the hub 51 and the bearing 52, respectively.
  • the inner wall 14 defines an inner volume 13 of the root portion 12.
  • a method for modifying a root portion 12 as shown in Fig. 2 will be explained. Said root portion 12 and the accompanying wind turbine base blade 10' remain installed at the hub 51 during the modification.
  • a wind turbine base blade 10' with a root portion 12 without the transversal holding arrangement 19 In a first process step, a plurality of root portion holes 25 is drilled and milled in a transversal direction 20 through the inner wall 14, the filler 16 and the outer wall 15 while establishing lateral recesses 22 (as shown in Fig. 7 and 8) and mounting insert holes 24 (as shown in Fig. 8) at the mounting inserts 17.
  • a plurality of root portion holes 25 is drilled and milled in a transversal direction 20 through the inner wall 14, the filler 16 and the outer wall 15 while establishing lateral recesses 22 (as shown in Fig. 7 and 8) and mounting insert holes 24 (as shown in Fig. 8) at the mounting inserts 17.
  • lateral recesses 22 as shown in Fig.
  • the transversal holding arrangement 19 comprises lateral beams 21, inlay beams 23, an inner plate structure 26 and an outer plate structure 27.
  • the transversal holding arrangement 19 can be installed as shown in Fig. 6.
  • the lateral beams 21 extend from the inner wall 14 and the outer wall 15 into the lateral recesses 22 of the mounting insert 17 (as shown in Fig. 7) for holding the mounting inserts 17 in the root portion 12 during operation of the wind turbine blade 10.
  • the inlay beams 23 extend from the inner wall 14 and the outer wall 15 into a mounting insert hole 24 of the mounting inserts 17 for holding the mounting inserts 17 in the root portion 12 during operation of the wind turbine blade 10.
  • the installed transversal holding arrangement 19 is shown in more detail in Fig. 7 and 8.
  • the lateral beams 21 extend between two mounting inserts 17 and into a lateral recess 22 of each of the two mounting inserts 17 for holding the mounting insert 17 in the root portion 12 during operation of the wind turbine blade 10.
  • the mounting insert holes 24 are through holes through the mounting inserts 17 in the transversal direction 20, wherein the inlay beams 23 extend from the inner wall 14 through the mounting insert holes 24 to the outer wall (not shown) .
  • the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams each have a cuboid shape.
  • Fig. 8 shows a further possible embodiment of the transversal holding arrangement 19, in which the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams each have a cylindrical shape.
  • Fig. 9 shows a side view of a further embodiment of a root portion 12. In Fig. 9, arrows show the improved force distribution by means of the transversal holding arrangement 19.
  • Fig. 10 shows a side view of a further embodiment of a root portion 12, in which the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams 23 are fixed to the inner plate structure 26 and to the outer plate structure 27 by means of nuts and washers.
  • Fig. 11 shows a side view of a further embodiment of a root portion 12, in which the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams 23 are fixed to the inner plate structure 26 and to the outer plate structure 27 by means of screws and washers.
  • Fig. 12 shows a flow chart for explaining an inventive method for producing a root portion.
  • a root portion 12 of a wind turbine base blade 10' is provided, having an inner wall 14, an outer wall 15, a filler 16 between the inner wall 14 and the outer wall 15, an inner volume 13 defined by the inner wall 14, and mounting inserts 17 for mounting a wind turbine blade 10 to a hub 51 of a wind turbine 50, wherein the mounting inserts 17 are supported by the filler 16 and extend in a longitudinal direction 18 of the root portion 12.
  • an inner plate structure 26 is bonded onto the inner wall 14 and an outer plate structure 27 is bonded onto the outer wall 15.
  • a third step S3 root portion holes 25 are drilled and milled through the inner plate structure 26, the inner wall 14, the filler 16, the mounting inserts 17, the outer wall 15 and the outer plate structure 26, while establishing the lateral recesses 22 and the mounting insert holes 24.
  • the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams 23 are installed in the established root portion holes 25, in order to contact the mounting inserts 17 for holding the same in the root portion 12 during operation of the wind turbine blade 10.
  • the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams 23 are fixed to the inner plate structure 26 and the outer plate structure 27.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a root portion (12) for a wind turbine blade (10), comprising: an inner wall (14), an outer wall (15), a filler (16), an inner volume (13), mounting inserts (17), and a transversal holding arrangement (19), wherein the transversal holding arrangement (19) comprises at least one inlay beam (23) extending from the inner wall (14) and/or the outer wall (15) into a mounting insert hole (24) of at least one mounting insert (17) for holding the mounting insert (17) in the root portion (12) during operation of the wind turbine blade (10), and wherein the mounting insert hole (24) is a through hole and the at least one inlay beam (23) extends from the inner wall (14) through the mounting insert hole (24) to the outer wall (15). The invention further relates to a wind turbine blade (10) with the root portion (12), a method of producing the root portion (12) and a method for modifying a root portion.

Description

Description
Root section, wind turbine blade and methods for producing and modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade
The present invention relates to a root portion of a wind turbine blade, a wind turbine blade, and methods for producing and modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade.
Wind turbine blades comprise a tip portion and a root portion. The root portion will be mounted to a hub and/or a blade bearing of the wind turbine. Connection means are arranged within the root portion. These connection means can be connected to bolts, which are secured against the blade bearing of the wind turbine. When securing the bolts, the root portion is loaded, resulting in a compression of the root portion and a tensile stress in the bolts. The root portion therefore is subjected to high compressive stress and further to the loads occurring during operation of the wind turbine, wherein the design options, for example size and type of the wind turbine blade, are limited, possibly resulting in failure, and reducing service life of the wind turbine blade.
In order to address these and other drawbacks, EP 3390811 Bl provides a connection joint for attaching a wind turbine rotor blade to a rotor hub. The connection joint comprises an insert configured to be coupled to the wind turbine blade. The insert includes a main body having a first end and a second end, a central bore open to the first end and extending toward the second end, and an outer surface configured to interface with the blade. The insert further includes a first tubular extension extending away from the second end of the main body and having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein each of the inner and outer surfaces are configured to interface with the blade. Furthermore, the insert includes a second tubular extension extending away from the main body and having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein each of the inner and outer surfaces are configured to inter- face with the blade. However, in the event of damage of the connection joint, the connection between the insert and a blade laminate holding the insert may fail resulting in a compromised load transfer capacity. When the number of affected inserts reaches a critical amount, the connection joint between the blade and the blade bearing will not be able to transfer the blade loads any longer and may result in blade detachments during operation with a potential structural failure of the blade and turbine.
Further systems and methods for manufacturing and installing wind turbine blades are described in the patent applications EP 2 697 048 A2 , EP 2 441 950 Al, US 2014/377072 Al and US 2013/177428 Al.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to improve the mechanical connection of a root portion and/or wind turbine blade to a wind turbine .
Aforesaid object is achieved by the subject-matter of the claims. In particular, the object is achieved by a root portion according to claim 1, a wind turbine blade according to claim 9, a method according to claim 10, and a method according to claim 11. Further features and details of the invention can be drawn from the dependent claims, the description, and the figures. Features and details discussed with respect to the inventive root portion are also correlated with the inventive wind turbine blade, the inventive methods, and the other way around.
According to the present invention, a root portion for a wind turbine blade is provided. The root portion comprises: an inner wall, an outer wall, a filler between the inner wall and the outer wall, an inner volume defined by the inner wall, mounting inserts for mounting the root portion to a hub of a wind turbine , wherein the mounting inserts are supported by the filler and extend in a longitudinal direction of the root portion , and a transversal holding arrangement extending in a transversal direction f rom the inner wall and/or the outer wall into the filler , wherein the transversal holding arrangement is connected to at least one mounting insert for holding the mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade , wherein the transversal holding arrangement of a root portion may comprise at least one inlay beam extending from the inner wall and/or the outer wall into a mounting insert hole of at least one mounting insert for holding the mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade , and wherein the mounting insert hole of an inventive root portion is a through hole and the at lea st one inlay beam extends from the inner wall through the mounting insert hole to the outer wall .
The inlay beam, which may be understood as a back end locking beam, may be provided alternatively or in addition to the above-mentioned at least one lateral beam . S ince the inlay beam is located in the insert hole , the diameter of an inlay beam can be smaller than the diameter of a lateral beam . Consequently, the at least one inlay beam can be provided with relatively low weight and/or material , which is a particular advantage when the mas s of the at least one inlay beam is accelerated during operation of the wind turbine . With the inventive configuration , a particularly even force distribution can be achieved in the transversal holding arrangement and the respective part of the root portion , respectively . Further , the at least one inlay beam may function li ke a splint pin for reliably holding the corre sponding mounting insert in its desired position in the filler . In this embodiment , the at least one inlay beam may extend and/or be located at least through a part of the inner wall and into the through hole and from there further through at least part of the outer wall .
The inventive transversal holding arrangement increases the load carrying capacity of the embedded mounting inserts , in particular metallic mounting inserts . Therefore , s lipping out of the mounting inserts still connected to j oint s and the hub , respectively, can be prevented when the blade is in operation . The transversal holding arrangement provides an easy and reliable solution for holding the mounting inserts in the root portion and thus the wind turbine blade to the hub . The transversal holding arrangement can be integrated around the whole root portion .
A further advantage of the invention is that the transversal holding arrangement can be added to and/or in wind turbine base blades not having said transversal holding arrangement uptower without the need of crane s or complex machinery . That is , such a wind turbine base blade can remain in its position at the hub , while the transversal holding arrangement can be installed . This minimize s the downtime of the wind turbine compared to downtower blade repair and/or modification works . Further , by means of the present invention , pos sibly loose mounting inserts do not need to be removed for maintenance . Rather , the mounting inserts can be locked with the transversal holding arrangement . Moreover , a load path and/or an additional load path can be provided to carry a significant portion of the blade root loads . The load path via the transversal holding arrangement serves to offload the original load path via the mounting inserts without negatively influencing the original load path via the mounting inserts .
The root portion can be understood as the hub-side end part of a wind turbine blade and/or rotor blade . That i s , the root portion is the portion of the wind turbine blade that will be connected to the hub and/or a blade bearing . The mounting inserts can be understood as tubular metal inserts integrated and/or embedded into the root portion between the inner wall and the outer wall . The plurality of mounting inserts are preferably located along the circular inner wall and outer wall , wherein each mounting insert extends in the longitudinal direction of the mounting inserts in the longitudinal direction of the root portion and the wind turbine blade , respectively . That is , the longitudinal direction of each mounting insert equals or bas ically equals the longitudinal direction of the root portion and the longitudinal direction of a wind turbine blade including the root portion . Each mounting insert may provide an internal thread for providing a s crew connection with a j oint having an external threat . The filler can be preferably provided a s a laminate or may comprise a laminate for supporting and/or fixing the mounting inserts in the desired position in the root portion between the inner wall and the outer wall . The filler may comprise dif ferent material s . For example , directly between the mounting inserts , the filler may compri se a compos ite wedge and/or laminate . Away from this part between the mounting inserts , that is , in an end portion of a gap between the inner wall and the outer wall , for example , the filler may comprise foam or a foam material different from the compos ite wedge .
The transversal holding arrangement may comprise a plurality of transversal elements like pins , beams , s crews , bolts , and/or expandable rivets , extending in the transversal direction into the filler and from there to at least one mounting insert for holding the mounting insert reliably in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade . The transversal direction extends preferably orthogonally or basically orthogonally to the longitudinal direction .
According to a further a spect of the pre sent invention , it is pos sible that the transversal holding arrangement of a root portion comprises at lea st one lateral beam extending from the inner wall and/or the outer wall into a lateral reces s of at least one mounting insert for holding the mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade . Such a conf iguration can be eas ily e stablished in the root portion as well as adapted to a ba se root portion not yet having such holding structure . The inventive lateral beams , which can be understood as front end locking beams , are further easy to manufacture . It is preferred that the root portion comprises a plurality of lateral beams , wherein each beam may extend from the inner wall and/or the outer wall into a corresponding lateral reces s of at lea st one mounting insert for holding said mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade . For example , there may be provided at least one lateral beam for each mounting insert . Each lateral beam may have an outer contact surface for contacting at lea st one lateral reces s , and each lateral reces s may have an outer contacting surface for contacting at least one lateral beam, wherein the outer contacting surfaces are preferably shaped complementary to each other or ba sically complementary to each other . The at lea st one lateral beam and/or the beams are each preferably in direct contact with at lea st one mounting insert for holding the respective mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade . At least in a middle portion of the at least one lateral beam, said beam may have a smooth and/or even outer surface , i . e . , no threads or the like . The at least one lateral beam is preferably directly or indirectly fixed to the inner wall and/or the outer wall . That is , fixing means may be provided to prevent movement between the at least one lateral beam and the inner wall and/or the outer wall . In accordance with the present invention , a beam can be understood as a pin , a bar , a bolt and/or any other rodshaped structure .
In addition , it is pos sible that at least one lateral beam of an inventive root portion extends f rom the inner wall and/or the outer wall between two mounting inserts and into a lateral reces s of each of the two mounting inserts for holding the mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade . The at lea st one lateral beam extending from the inner wall and/or the outer wall into a lateral reces s of at least one mounting insert can thus be understood and/or configurated as at lea st one lateral beam extending through at least part of the inner wall , through at least part of the outer wall , and through and/or into the lateral reces s . The at least one lateral beam may thus extend through at least part of the inner wall into the filler to the lateral reces s and from there further through at least part of the outer wall - or the other way around . This configuration makes a particularly firm mounting of the root portion to the hub pos s ible . Further , an even force distribution in the area of the transversal holding arrangement can be achieved .
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention , it is pos sible that the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam of a root portion compri ses a cylindrical shape . A cylindrical lateral beam and/or a cylindrical inlay beam can be produced fast and ea sy . Further , corresponding rece s ses and/or holes can be easily established by drilling , for example .
Moreover , the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam of an inventive root portion may compri se a cuboid shape . Especially a cuboid lateral beam may provide a particularly high holding force against displacement of the wind turbine blade from its desired location during operation of the wind turbine . The at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam may further comprise any other prismatic shape .
In a further embodiment , an inventive root portion may compri se an inner plate structure at the inner wall outside the inner volume and/or an outer plate structure at the outer wall out side the inner volume , wherein the transversal holding arrangement is mounted to the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure . By means of the two plate structures , the force applied to the transversal holding ar- rangement , in particular to the at lea st one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam, can be evenly applied to the inner wall and/or to the outer wall . Consequently, the root portion can be held even more reliable at the hub while protecting the material and/or parts of the root portion . In a preferred embodiment , the inner plate structure and the outer plate structure are provided and mounted to the inner wall and the outer wall , respectively . Each plate structure may provide at least one through hole , preferably a plurality of through holes , in which the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam are located and/or through which the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam extend . The inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure may each be bent and/or curved with a radius in order to be located form-fit to the inner wall and the outer wall , respectively . Depending on the shape of the at lea st one lateral beam and the at least one inlay beam, the at least one through hole through the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure may have a circular cros s section or a rectangular cros s -section .
Furthermore , at least one lateral beam and/or at least one inlay beam of an inventive root portion extend from the inner plate structure to the outer plate structure , i . e . , extend from the inner plate structure to the outer plate structure while being in contact with the inner plate structure and the outer plate structure . In thi s configuration , the force applied to the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam can be transmitted to the inner wall and the outer wall even more equally .
Having the inner plate structure and the outer plate structure , the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam of an inventive root portion is f ixed to the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure . This configuration also fixes the relative position of the at least one lateral beam to the at least one corresponding lateral reces s and/or the at lea st one inlay beam to the at lea st one corresponding mounting insert hole , without the need of screws or other fixing means between the inner wall and the outer wall . Therefore , a transversal holding arrangement with such a configuration can be installed quickly and easily . In a preferred embodiment , the at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam i s fixed to the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure by means of threads at end portions thereof and nuts screwed thereon applying pre-tension forces into the beams and the plate structures , respectively . That is , all the beams may be kept in the desired position with nut s , bolts , s crews and/or wa shers , each being installed at end portions of the beams , for example . The at least one lateral beam and/or the at least one inlay beam are fixed to the inner plate structure and/or the outer plate structure in order to prevent relative movement between the at lea st one lateral beam and the plate structures and/or the at least one inlay beam and the plate structures .
According to a further aspect of the present invention , a wind turbine blade is provided comprising a tip portion and a root portion as de scribed above . Therefore , the inventive wind turbine blade brings up the same advantages that have been des cribed in detail with respect to the inventive root portion .
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention , a method for producing the above-described root portion is proposed . The method comprise s the steps of : providing a root portion with an inner wall , an outer wall , a filler between the inner wall and the outer wall , an inner volume defined by the inner wall , and mounting inserts for mounting a wind turbine blade to a hub of a wind turbine , wherein the mounting inserts are supported by the f iller and extend in a longitudinal direction of the root portion , establishing at least one root portion hole through the inner wall and the filler to at least one mounting insert and/or through the outer wall and the filler to at least one mounting insert , installing the transversal holding arrangement in the at lea st one established root portion hole in contact with the at least one mounting insert .
In addition , a method is provided for modifying a root portion of a wind turbine base blade installed in a wind turbine , wherein the root portion comprise s an inner wall , an outer wall , a filler between the inner wall and the outer wall , an inner volume defined by the inner wall , and mounting inserts for mounting the wind turbine base blade to a hub of a wind turbine , wherein the mounting inserts are supported by the filler and extend in a longitudinal direction of the root portion and the wind turbine base blade . The method comprises the steps of : establishing at least one root portion hole through the inner wall and the f iller to at least one mounting insert and/or through the outer wall and the filler to at least one mounting insert , installing a transversal holding arrangement in the at lea st one established root portion hole in contact with the at least one mounting insert , wherein the transversal holding arrangement is installed with at least one inlay beam extending f rom the inner wall and/or the outer wall into a mounting insert hole of at least one mounting insert for holding the mounting insert in the root portion during operation of the wind turbine blade , and wherein the mounting insert hole is provided as a through hole and the at least one inlay beam is located to extend from the inner wall through the mounting insert hole to the outer wall .
Therefore , the inventive method brings up the above-des cribed advantages as well . The at least one root portion hole is preferably drilled and/or milled into and/or through the inner wall , the outer wall , the filler , and/or at least one mounting insert. Further, the at least one root portion hole is preferably established as at least one through hole through the inner wall and the outer wall from the inner volume into the environment of the root portion.
Further measures improving the inventive concept can be drawn from the following description of preferred embodiments which are schematically shown in the drawings . The features and advantages which can be drawn from the claims, from the description and from the drawings might be considered essential alone or in combination with each other.
The present invention is discussed in more detail with respect to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows a wind turbine,
Fig. 2 shows a wind turbine base blade as known in prior art ,
Figures 3 to 6 show illustrations for explaining an inventive method for modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade,
Fig. 7 shows part of an inventive root portion according to a further embodiment of the present invention,
Fig. 8 shows part of an inventive root portion according to a further embodiment of the present invention,
Fig. 9 shows a side view of an inventive root portion,
Fig. 10 shows a side view of a further embodiment of an inventive root portion,
Fig. 11 shows a side view of a further embodiment of an inventive root portion, and Fig. 12 shows a flow chart for explaining an inventive method for producing a root portion.
Elements and features having the same function and operating principle are labelled with the same reference signs in the drawings .
Fig. 1 shows a wind turbine 50 with a hub 51 and three wind turbine blades 10 mounted to the hub 51. As shown in more detail in the expansion view, root portions 12 of the wind turbine blades 10 are mounted to a bearing 52 of the hub 51.
Fig. 2 shows a wind turbine base blade 10' as known in prior art. As can be seen in Fig. 2, metallic mounting inserts 17 are located in a laminate filler 16 between an inner wall 14 and an outer wall 15 of the root portion 12. The mounting inserts 17 are supported by the filler 16 and extend in a longitudinal direction 18 of the root portion 12 and the wind turbine base blade 10' . Joints 53 are screwed into the mounting inserts 17 for holding the wind turbine base blade 10' at the hub 51 and the bearing 52, respectively. The inner wall 14 defines an inner volume 13 of the root portion 12.
With regard to Figures 3 to 6, a method for modifying a root portion 12 as shown in Fig. 2 will be explained. Said root portion 12 and the accompanying wind turbine base blade 10' remain installed at the hub 51 during the modification. At first, as shown in Fig. 3, there is a wind turbine base blade 10' with a root portion 12 without the transversal holding arrangement 19. In a first process step, a plurality of root portion holes 25 is drilled and milled in a transversal direction 20 through the inner wall 14, the filler 16 and the outer wall 15 while establishing lateral recesses 22 (as shown in Fig. 7 and 8) and mounting insert holes 24 (as shown in Fig. 8) at the mounting inserts 17. As shown in Fig. 5, the transversal holding arrangement 19 is now provided. The transversal holding arrangement 19 comprises lateral beams 21, inlay beams 23, an inner plate structure 26 and an outer plate structure 27. Now, the transversal holding arrangement 19 can be installed as shown in Fig. 6. Here, the lateral beams 21 extend from the inner wall 14 and the outer wall 15 into the lateral recesses 22 of the mounting insert 17 (as shown in Fig. 7) for holding the mounting inserts 17 in the root portion 12 during operation of the wind turbine blade 10. The inlay beams 23 extend from the inner wall 14 and the outer wall 15 into a mounting insert hole 24 of the mounting inserts 17 for holding the mounting inserts 17 in the root portion 12 during operation of the wind turbine blade 10.
The installed transversal holding arrangement 19 is shown in more detail in Fig. 7 and 8. As can be seen there, the lateral beams 21 extend between two mounting inserts 17 and into a lateral recess 22 of each of the two mounting inserts 17 for holding the mounting insert 17 in the root portion 12 during operation of the wind turbine blade 10. As can be further drawn from Fig. 7, the mounting insert holes 24 are through holes through the mounting inserts 17 in the transversal direction 20, wherein the inlay beams 23 extend from the inner wall 14 through the mounting insert holes 24 to the outer wall (not shown) . In the embodiment of Fig. 7, the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams each have a cuboid shape.
Fig. 8 shows a further possible embodiment of the transversal holding arrangement 19, in which the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams each have a cylindrical shape. Fig. 9 shows a side view of a further embodiment of a root portion 12. In Fig. 9, arrows show the improved force distribution by means of the transversal holding arrangement 19. Fig. 10 shows a side view of a further embodiment of a root portion 12, in which the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams 23 are fixed to the inner plate structure 26 and to the outer plate structure 27 by means of nuts and washers. Fig. 11 shows a side view of a further embodiment of a root portion 12, in which the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams 23 are fixed to the inner plate structure 26 and to the outer plate structure 27 by means of screws and washers.
Fig. 12 shows a flow chart for explaining an inventive method for producing a root portion. In a first step SI, a root portion 12 of a wind turbine base blade 10' is provided, having an inner wall 14, an outer wall 15, a filler 16 between the inner wall 14 and the outer wall 15, an inner volume 13 defined by the inner wall 14, and mounting inserts 17 for mounting a wind turbine blade 10 to a hub 51 of a wind turbine 50, wherein the mounting inserts 17 are supported by the filler 16 and extend in a longitudinal direction 18 of the root portion 12. In a second step S2, an inner plate structure 26 is bonded onto the inner wall 14 and an outer plate structure 27 is bonded onto the outer wall 15. In a third step S3, root portion holes 25 are drilled and milled through the inner plate structure 26, the inner wall 14, the filler 16, the mounting inserts 17, the outer wall 15 and the outer plate structure 26, while establishing the lateral recesses 22 and the mounting insert holes 24. In a fourth step S4, the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams 23 are installed in the established root portion holes 25, in order to contact the mounting inserts 17 for holding the same in the root portion 12 during operation of the wind turbine blade 10. In a fifths step S5, the lateral beams 21 and the inlay beams 23 are fixed to the inner plate structure 26 and the outer plate structure 27.
The aforesaid description of the accompanying drawings is only by the way of detail and example. Specific features of each aspect of the present invention and the figures can be combined which each other if of technical sense.

Claims

Patent claims
1. A root portion (12) for a wind turbine blade (10) , comprising : an inner wall (14) , an outer wall (15) , a filler (16) between the inner wall (14) and the outer wall (15) , an inner volume (13) defined by the inner wall (14) , mounting inserts (17) for mounting the root portion (12) to a hub (51) of a wind turbine (50) , wherein the mounting inserts (17) are supported by the filler (16) and extend in a longitudinal direction (18) of the root portion ( 12 ) , and a transversal holding arrangement (19) extending in a transversal direction (20) from the inner wall (14) and/or the outer wall (15) into the filler (16) , wherein the transversal holding arrangement (19) is connected to at least one mounting insert (17) for holding the mounting insert (17) in the root portion (12) during operation of the wind turbine blade (10) , wherein the transversal holding arrangement (19) comprises at least one inlay beam (23) extending from the inner wall (14) and/or the outer wall (15) into a mounting insert hole (24) of at least one mounting insert (17) for holding the mounting insert (17) in the root portion (12) during operation of the wind turbine blade (10) , and wherein the mounting insert hole (24) is a through hole and the at least one inlay beam (23) extends from the inner wall (14) through the mounting insert hole (24) to the outer wall (15) .
2. The root portion (12) according to claim 1, wherein the transversal holding arrangement (19) comprises at least one lateral beam (21) extending from the inner wall (14) and/or the outer wall (15) into a lateral recess (22) of at least one mounting insert (17) for holding the mounting insert (17) in the root portion (12) during operation of the wind turbine blade (10) .
3. The root portion (12) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one lateral beam (21) extends from the inner wall (14) and/or the outer wall (15) between two mounting inserts (17) and into a lateral recess (22) of each of the two mounting inserts (17) for holding the mounting insert (17) in the root portion (12) during operation of the wind turbine blade (10) .
4. The root portion (12) according to one of claims 2 and 3, wherein the at least one lateral beam (21) and/or the at least one inlay beam (23) comprises a cylindrical shape.
5. The root portion (12) according to one of the preceding claims 2 - 4, wherein the at least one lateral beam (21) and/or the at least one inlay beam (23) comprises a cuboid shape .
6. The root portion (12) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an inner plate structure (26) at the inner wall (14) outside the inner volume (13) and/or an outer plate structure (27) at the outer wall (15) outside the inner volume (13) , wherein the transversal holding arrangement (19) is mounted to the inner plate structure (26) and/or the outer plate structure (27) .
7. The root portion (12) according to claim 6, wherein the at least one lateral beam (21) and/or the at least one inlay beam (23) extends from the inner plate structure (26) to the outer plate structure (27) .
8. The root portion (12) according to one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the at least one lateral beam (21) and/or the at least one inlay beam (23) is fixed to the inner plate structure (26) and/or the outer plate structure (27) .
9. A wind turbine blade (10) comprising a tip portion (11) and a root portion (12) according to one of the preceding claims .
10. A method for producing a root portion (12) according to one of claims 1 - 8, comprising the steps of: providing a root portion (12) with an inner wall (14) , an outer wall (15) , a filler (16) between the inner wall (14) and the outer wall (15) , an inner volume (13) defined by the inner wall (14) , and mounting inserts (17) for mounting a wind turbine blade (10) to a hub (51) of a wind turbine (50) , wherein the mounting inserts (17) are supported by the filler (16) and extend in a longitudinal direction (18) of the root portion (12) , establishing at least one root portion hole (25) through the inner wall (14) and the filler (16) to at least one mounting insert (17) and/or through the outer wall (15) and the filler (16) to at least one mounting insert (17) , installing the transversal holding arrangement (19) in the at least one established root portion hole (25) in contact with the at least one mounting insert (17) .
11. A method for modifying a root portion (12) of a wind turbine base blade (10' ) installed in a wind turbine (50) , wherein the root portion (12) comprises an inner wall (14) , an outer wall (15) , a filler (16) between the inner wall (14) and the outer wall (15) , an inner volume (13) defined by the inner wall (14) , and mounting inserts (17) for mounting the wind turbine base blade (10' ) to a hub (51) of a wind turbine (50) , wherein the mounting inserts (17) are supported by the filler (16) and extend in a longitudinal direction (18) of the root portion (12) and the wind turbine base blade (10' ) , comprising the steps of: establishing at least one root portion hole (25) through the inner wall (14) and the filler (16) to at least one mounting insert (17) and/or through the outer wall (15) and the filler (16) to at least one mounting insert (17) , installing a transversal holding arrangement (19) in the at least one established root portion hole (25) in contact with the at least one mounting insert (17) , wherein the transversal holding arrangement (19) is in- stalled with at least one inlay beam (23) extending from the inner wall (14) and/or the outer wall (15) into a mounting insert hole (24) of at least one mounting insert (17) for holding the mounting insert (17) in the root portion (12) during operation of the wind turbine blade (10) , and wherein the mounting insert hole (24) is provided as a through hole and the at least one inlay beam (23) is located to extend from the inner wall (14) through the mounting insert hole (24) to the outer wall (15) .
EP23702503.6A 2022-02-24 2023-02-03 Root section, wind turbine blade and methods for producing and modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade Pending EP4453412A1 (en)

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EP22382158.8A EP4234919A1 (en) 2022-02-24 2022-02-24 Root section, wind turbine blade and methods for producing and modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade
PCT/EP2023/052717 WO2023160990A1 (en) 2022-02-24 2023-02-03 Root section, wind turbine blade and methods for producing and modifying a root portion of a wind turbine blade

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WO2023160990A1 (en) 2023-08-31
US12480467B2 (en) 2025-11-25
EP4234919A1 (en) 2023-08-30

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